Akron, Ohio
Nearly a decade ago, Akron, Ohio, laid the groundwork to become a connected community. In the strategic plan, “Imagine: Akron 2025,” city leaders envisioned a broadband network leveraged to spur economic development and encourage an entrepreneurial culture to revive this former industrial town. In recent years, Akron has initiated several projects to capitalize on its assets and reinvent its economy, bolstered by continual support from the Knight Foundation.
Today, forward-thinking strategies coupled with the city’s history at the forefront of broadband technology development prepare Akron to put a community technology program to work for its citizens. Guided by the Knight Center of Digital Excellence, Akron’s connected community strategy plans for sustainability, identifying prospective beneficiaries of broadband access and illustrating the value proposition to stakeholders. At community workshops facilitated by the Knight Center, community leaders discuss potential opportunities and learn about the numerous benefits that a connected community program offers.
Akron, the birthplace of Knight newspapers and the Knight Foundation and the home of the new Knight Center of Digital Excellence, is sure to be one of the Knight Center’s shining examples of transformation.
“We are proud to be the first recipient of a Knight Foundation grant for broadband wireless, and especially for being selected as the site for Knight’s Center of Digital Excellence”
- Dave Lieberth, Deputy Mayor for Administration.
Quick Facts
Population: 210,025 (694,960 in metro area)
Median household income: $31,835
- A world-renowned center for polymer research and development, the Akron area is home to 400 polymer-related companies.
- Headquarters to tire giant Goodyear
- Akron plays host to the annual All-American Soap Box Derby, where children from across the country race homemade, gravity-powered race cars down the steep hill at Derby Downs track.
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Akron Wireless
Propelled by a grant from Knight Foundation, Akron is the first Knight Community to embark on the journey toward universal access through the Center of Digital Excellence led by OneCommunity.
The first step for Akron is a wireless network covering 8-12 square miles of the downtown area, providing hundreds of businesses and thousands of residents and visitors with free wireless Internet access.
View the Akron Wireless coverage map
View a fact sheet on the Akron Wireless project
Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic (left) and Knight Foundation Vice President for Strategic Initiatives Paula Lynn Ellis speak about the wireless network that OneCommunity is deploying in downtown Akron.
If you would like to be involved or have any innovative ideas to help Akron become a connected community, send us your feedback and our Connected Communities Team will get in touch with you.